How to Sew on a Button with an Awl
Sewing awls are an ideal way to do heavy stitching through multiple layers of heavy materials, such as canvas, leather, or denim. Many people find these a simpler tool to use than the average sewing machine and also find that its heavier duty needle and thread are more appropriate for their heavy weight materials. Sewing awls can be used for seams and for attaching buttons. Many people carry sewing awls as part of their survival gear while out camping, to be used for emergency repairs.
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Things You'll Need
- Sewing awl
- Spool of waxed thread suitable for a sewing awl
- 1 two or four hole button
- An object to attach the button to
Instructions
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1
Pull a length of thread through the eye of the sewing awl needle. If your button is a two hole button, it should be approximately 6 inches long. If you have a four hole button, your thread length should be approximately 12 inches long.
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2
Slide the button over the needle. Do not pull the excess thread through the button hole.
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3
Locate and mark the place on your garment where you want the button to be.
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4
Push the needle through the heavy material where you wish the button to be located.
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5
Pull the excess thread through the material so that it is sticking out on the wrong side of your garment.
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6
Pull the needle back out of the hole you have just made, leaving the excess thread hanging on the other side.
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7
Push the needle through the second hole of the button. Hold onto the thread on the wrong side of the garment to prevent it from pulling out.
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8
Pull the needle part way back through the hole you have just made so that there is a loop of thread on the side of the needle. Thread the excess thread through this loop. Pull the needle the rest of the way out of the hole. Keep tension on both ends of the thread to help lock the stitch in place.
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9
Repeat steps 7 and 8 at least one more time, going through the first hole instead of the second hole in the button. If you have a four hole button, repeat this step at least twice with the second set of holes.
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10
Push the needle through the second hole one last time. Pull approximately 2 inches of excess thread off of the needle on the wrong side of the material. Cut the thread so that the excess is left on the wrong side of the material. Pull the needle back through the hole.
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11
Tie off the stitching using a surgeon's knot. Tie a half knot, right over left, then add an extra loop around. Tie a second half knot, left over right. Pull tight.
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12
Trim any excess thread to approximately 1/2 inch.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep tension on both ends of the thread while you are working to make your stitches tidy and strong. The sewing awl allows you to keep a thumb or finger on the thread as you are pulling back, by resting your thumb or finger near the groove in the handle.
Be careful when pushing the needle through the button and material to keep your hand out of the way so it is not punctured when the needle comes through the wrong side of the material.
References
- Photo Credit Genuine blue leather jacket image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
